Said and Done
JANUARY 2022
MIT SCHOOL OF HUMANITIES, ARTS, AND SOCIAL SCIENCES
QUOTABLE
“True democracy and liberty originate, and are sustained, in the messy process of society mobilizing.”
— Daron Acemoglu, Institute Professor
STRENGTHENING DEMOCRACY 
What can leaders and We, the People do to sustain our democracy?
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A Gallery of MIT Research on U.S. Democracy
A distilled selection of key research, news, and media commentaries on the state of U.S. democracy, from MIT's humanities and social science fields.
For a larger collection explore a new section on the School website:
21st Century Democracy
NEW BOOKS
SECURITY STUDIES
Seeking the Bomb | Vipin Narang
Why do some countries go nuclear and others do not? In this first systematic look at the different strategies that states employ in their pursuit of nuclear weapons, Narang develops an original typology of proliferation strategies — hedging, sprinting, sheltered pursuit, and hiding — and discusses the opportunities/vulnerabilities of each.
Story by Peter Dizikes at MIT News | Vipin Narang
COMPARATIVE MEDIA STUDIES / WRITING
A deeper understanding of transgender rights | Edward Schiappa
In his new book, The Transgender Exigency, Schiappa provides “a framework with which to understand competing regulatory definitions.” Based on his research, Schiappa proposes self-identification as an important way to define transgender status.
Story by Peter Dizikes at MIT News | Commentary by Schiappa
LITERATURE
Shakespeare and Digital Pedagogy | Eds., Diana Henderson, Kyle Sebvitale
This international collection of fresh digital approaches for teaching Shakespeare describes 15 recently developed resources, methodologies, and tools. Contributors explore how these resources facilitate conversation on local and global culture, identity and race, and performance.
About the book | Diana Henderson webpage
MIT SHASS Bookshelf
New knowledge and insight, guidance for policy, and nourishment for lives
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LEADERSHIP
Melissa Nobles, Professor of Political Science, Chancellor of MIT; photo by Leah Fasten
Putting ideas into action | Melissa Nobles
Nobles, Professor of Political Science and MIT Chancellor, laid a foundation for leadership through her groundbreaking research on politics and racial justice — work that includes how governments and institutions, including universities, have shaped public discussions of race and sustained injustice for Black citizens.
Story at Technology Review
SOLVING CLIMATE
Course: STS.430 / Multi-Species Histories of Plant People, Wild & Cultivated: explores how botanists, philosophers, farmers, and science writers have adapted research questions to incorporate plant intelligence.
COMPARATIVE MEDIA STUDIES + ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY INITIATIVE
American perceptions of climate change | James Paradis, Laur Hesse Fisher
More than 50% of Americans are now worried about climate change. Does the rest of the country just not get it? Are they misled by corporate and political propaganda? Fisher of ESI and Paradis of CMS/W will host an IAP workshop January 27/28 on American beliefs about climate and the media role in shaping them.
Register online | Related: Parrish Bergquist '19 on civic opinion and climate action
MEET THE MIT BILINGUALS
Adedolapo "Dolapo" Adedokun '22, EECS and Music
"Technology has this incredible potential to make anyone a creator — I’d like to build the tools to make it happen."
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COMPUTER SCIENCE + MUSIC + MUSIC TECH
Tech to democratize access to creativity and the arts | Dolapo Adedokun '22
After graduation, Adedokun, who has received the prestigious George Mitchell Scholarship, will begin a Masters program in Intelligent Systems at Trinity College Dublin. The talented computer scientist is also an accomplished musician whose studies at the intersection of music and computer systems have led him to envision working to help realize the potential of tech to "democratize accessibility to music and the arts."
Story by MIT EECS via MIT News
PHILOSOPHY + MATHEMATICS
An aspiring human rights lawyer | Ana Reyes Sanchez '22
“I enjoy the branch of philosophy that looks at decisions and rationality," Sanchez says, "and that tends to involve a lot of math!” She says philosophy has also given her tools to develop plans for action in the world. Looking forward, she envisions law school and work on human rights issues.
Story at MIT News
COMPUTER SCIENCE + POLICY
Envisioning a career in social change and policy | Max Williamson '22
“As engineers, we can make meaningful, positive differences in public policy," Williamson says. He will use a Truman Scholarship to pursue either law school or a master’s degree in public policy and envisions a career in international relations and national security policy.
Story at MIT News
L to R: Ana Reyes Sanchez '22 and Max Williamson '22
BE YOUR WHOLE SELF AT MIT
Meet the MIT Bilinguals
Many MIT students earn dual degrees, combining humanistic and sci/tech knowledge domains to gain synergistic capacities and perspectives.
Browse the Gallery
MAKING A JUST SOCIETY
L: Liliane Umubyeyi, co-founder/co-director, African Futures Action Lab; R: Amah Edoh, MIT Asst Professor of Anthropology
What will it take to sustain the momentum of movements for racial justice sparked in 2020?
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ANTHROPOLOGY
Sustaining the Momentum | Eds., Amah Edoh, Liliane Umubyeyi
A new essay collection, co-edited by Edoh, MIT Assistant Professor of Anthropology, and Umubyeyi, co-founder/co-director of the African Futures Lab, focuses on ideas for supporting and sustaining movements for social justice.
CENTER FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDIES
AI for Judges
What role should, will, or might judges play in addressing the use of AI? How will AI and machine learning impact judicial practice in federal and state courts? Building on his work while at MIT Center for International Studies, the Honorable James E. Baker addresses AI and the judiciary.
Report via Center for Security and Emerging Technology | MIT CIS
MIT SHASS DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION
Update on our Program
Visit the SHASS DEI websection for stories, plans, and progress.
Main Page | Gallery | Timeline | MIT ICEO website
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Published 12 January 2022